Passage of the Day:
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! – Philippians 2:1-8
Reflection:
In this day of social media, many of these sites encourage participants to express through pictures, posts and videos, “look at me, look at me.” This is the exact opposite of how Jesus would think today. According to the apostle Paul, Jesus was a humble servant of God. Despite being the Son of God, Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy in Genesis 3:15. This is a thought that entered Jesus’ mind in Matthew 26:38-44 while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. If Jesus was alive today, His thoughts would still be centered around God’s will being done.
Prayerful Action:
Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s,” Matthew 22:17-21.
Renewing Your Mind:
Jesus’ response in the passage above highlights how He would think if alive today. Jesus makes a clear distinction between God and the world. Taxes belong to the one whose image is on a bill or coin. However, give to God, what belongs to the Lord. This includes gifts and talents that you have received from the Lord, 1 Corinthians 12:7. Meanwhile, Jesus’ time of prayer in Mark 1:35-38 illustrates where Jesus’ thoughts would be focused on: going and meeting people in need.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
Luke 15 provides three parables that reveal the extent of God’s love. Whether you’ve lost a sentimental coin, a pet or waiting for a prodigal child to return home, Jesus’ thoughts are centered around a labor of love.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 